Young’s three-run homer, Kirby’s stellar start lift M’s over Guardians, 5-1
· Yahoo Sports
Cole Young fouled off strike one. He fouled off strike two.
But when the Mariners desperately needed the “big swing,” Seattle’s second baseman found the barrel.
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For three-plus innings, the M’s went quietly. They mustered just one hit before Young stepped into the box in the fourth, trailing Cleveland 1-0 on a Friday night seemingly bound for frustration.
Young flipped that script. He crushed an 0-2 four-seamer offered over the middle by Guardians starter Gavin Williams — a two-out, three-run homer following walks by Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone.
Mariners right-hander George Kirby threw six stellar innings, outfielder Luke Raley added a two-run homer, and Seattle beat Cleveland, 5-1, for their first win of the season at T-Mobile Park.
Cleveland squandered their best chance to respond with one of more questionable tag-ups from third base you’ll ever see.
The Guardians loaded the bases with one out in the fifth when Steven Kwan lifted a shallow fly ball to Arozarena in left field. Rhys Hoskins, at third, had no business attempting to score on a sacrifice fly. But there he went.
Arozarena paused, almost baffled that Hoskins took off. A throw home beat the Guardians first baseman by a mile and catcher Cal Raleigh applied the tag, leaving red-hot Cleveland hitter Chase DeLauter in the on-deck circle.
Raley crushed Guardians reliever Colin Holderman’s cutter over the middle for a two-run blast in the sixth.
DeLauter’s first-inning solo homer, his third of the season, prevented a shutout.
This story will be updated.
ROSTER MOVE
The Mariners placed right-handed reliever Carlos Vargas, 26, on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain, retroactive to March 24. Right-hander Cole Wilcox was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
Vargas felt discomfort earlier this week and alerted trainers, Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. They’re still assessing the severity of the injury and will know more in the coming days.
“Obviously tough,” Wilson said. “Injuries are always tough. We’ll just hope for the best. Vargy is a big part of our bullpen down there. Getting a chance for Cole Wilcox now to be a part of it, who’s also come off a pretty good spring.”
Wilcox appeared in one game for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025 and was acquired by the Mariners in November in exchange for cash considerations. He made eight appearances (8.1 IP) for Seattle at spring training, allowing six hits and four runs with four walks and 11 strikeouts.
EMERSON BLASTS OPENING DAY HOMER WITH TRIPLE-A TACOMA
Colt Emerson keeps mashing.
Seattle’s top prospect launched a two-run homer on Opening Day for Triple-A Tacoma, driving a low curveball the opposite way in the third inning of Friday’s 7-6 win at Triple-A Reno. Statcast measured the blast at 408 feet.
The 20-year-old infielder is considered the No. 9 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Emerson was reassigned to the Rainiers last week after a solid showing at spring training, but the Mariners are expected to promote their potential future cornerstone to the show in the coming months.
“The biggest thing is I finished (spring) healthy,” Emerson told The News Tribune on Wednesday. “Other than that, I can’t complain. I can’t wish for anything other than to break camp healthy and come to Tacoma with a good mindset, a positive mindset. Just be a winning ballplayer.”
The Rainiers return to Tacoma for their home opener with Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday night.
ON DECK
Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, an All-Star in 2025, makes his first start of the season Saturday night against the Guardians. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. at T-Mobile Park.